Uncoupling mechanism for car couplers



Sept. 2, 1924. 1,506,806

A. .1. BAZELEY UNCOUFLING MECHANISM FOR CAR COUPLERS Filed Feb. 12. 1921 Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES v 1,506,806 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. BAZELEY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NATIONAL I ALLEABLE AND STEEL CASTINGS COHPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

UNCOUPLING MECHANISM: FOR CAB COUPLEBS Application filed February 12 1921. Serial No. 444,339.

of my improved uncoupling mec anism to.

a'coupler and the under-framing of a car; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the uncoupling mechanism showing the manner in which it is suspended from a car; Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof with the uncoupling mechanism in normal depending position and coupler in locked position; and 4 shows the position of the uncoupling mechanism upon actuation and. with the coupler inknuckle thrown position.

My invention relates to uncoupling mechanism of the bottom operated type, particularly designed for use with couplers equipped with centering mechanisms by which the coupler is automatically returned to the longitudinal center line of the car.

Suitable types of centering mechanisms are' shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 372,421, filed April 9, 1920. My invention comprises means for actuating the coupler operating mechanism regardless of the extent to whch the coupler is angled laterally, and consists in the construction and arrangement of parts which I shall hereinafter describe and claim.

' Referring to the drawings, 2 indicates a car coupler which is pivoted at 3 for movement transversely of the car. Attached to the under side of the coupler is a lock lifter 4 of the bottom operated type. Secured in the eye 5 of the lifter 4 is a lifting rod 6 by which lifter 4 is actuated. The rod 6 extends rearwardly through, and is loosely supported by, a hanger 7 so that it is free to move in all directions with the coupler.

The hanger 7 depends from the brackets 8,.

which support the coupler centering mechanism 9.

Beneath the rod 6 is another rod 10, preferably of bail-like shape, loosely suspended in the links 11, which depend from the brackets 8. The ends 12 of the bail 10 are bent substantially at right angles to the plane of the middle portion of the bail and each end 12 is engaged by the inner end of an actuating member 13, which loops around the bail 10 adjacent an end 12 in such manner that the rotation of either of them rotates the bail 10.

Actuation of either member 13 by its handle 14 causes the bail 10 to rotate and to be elevated into contact with the lifter rod 6 between its connection with the lock lifter 4 and its fulcrum in the hanger 7,. As the rotation is continued the bail 10 lifts the rod 6, and as the rod 6 fulcrums against the hanger 7 the forward end of the rod is forced upwardly, carrying with it the lock lifter 4, thus operating the coupler. It will be seen that where one of the members 13 1S actuated thecorresponding member 13at the opposite side of the car is not disturbed, and t at as soon as the pressure on a member 13 is relieved the member 13 and hail 10 are free to drop back to normal position, leavin the coupler .either in lock-set or knuck e-thrown position.

I have found that the construction which I have described is of particular advantage, since the bail will operate the lifter rod no matter what position the coupler assumes relative to the center line of the car, for the reason that the bail is curved forwardly on a radius so that the distance between the point of attachment of the rod 6 to the lock lifter 4 and the point at which it engages the rod 6 is always substantiall the same, regardless of the extent to whic the coupler as angled laterally, thereby. eliminating the possibility of a loss of efliciency in the force applied to the actuating member through friction between the lifting rod and the bail.

As the bail 10 rotates upwardly in lifting the rod 6, its point of contact with the rod does not move along the rod because of the fact that the bail 10 is journalled in links 11 which are free to swing as shown in Fig. d, which eliminates a. sliding enga(gement and friction between the bail and ro The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and l have no inten- 'on, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described,

or portions thereof, but recognize that various structural modifications are ossible within the scope of the invention c aimed.

What I claim is:

1. An uncoupling mechanism for acouplerimounted for radial movement in a car, comprising a lifting rodearried loosely in a bracket and on aging the lock 0 ratin mechanism of said coupler, a bai -shape member extending laterally beneath said lifting rod, floatin supports depending from the underirammg of the car for suspending the bail intermediate its ends, the bail being so mounted on itsfloating su 4 ports that upon actuation it will engage t o rod at substantially the same distance from the point of engagement of the rod to the lockoperating mechanism during the uncoupling operation, and a plurality of lateral y extending operating rod members, each of the said operating rod members having an end connected to an end of the bail, each member at each such connectionhaving its end arranged at-an angle to its body and one, of the said ends terminating in :"a loo P taking about the body of the other of said members whereby one of said rod members is flexibly connected to the bail for limited rotation with said bail in one direction but independently of the said hail in the other direction, the said 'connection between the bail and the other red 'member being inoperative except upon actuation by its operating handle. 4

'2. An uncoupling mechanism for a conpler mounted for radial movement in a car, comprising a lifting rod member carried loosely in a bracket and engaging the lock operating mechanism of said cou ler, a bailsha ed member. extending laterally beneath sai lifting rod, floating supports depending from. the underframing of the car for supportihg the bail intermediate its ends, the bail'being so mounted on its floating supports that upon actuation it will engage the rod at substantially the samedistance from the pointof enga ement of therod to the lock operating mec anism during the uncoupling operation, a laterally extending operating rod member having an end connected to an end of the bail, each member at such connection having' its end arran ed at an angle to its body and one of sai ends terminating in a loop taking about the bodyoi the other ofthe' said members, whereby the said operating rod member is flexibly connected to the bail for limited rotation with said bail in one direction but independently of the said bail in the other direction. I

ARTHUR J. manner. 

